. >> paul ryan 's from there, right. >> mark, it isn't too crude, i don't think, because we're talking about politics and talking about the closing days, to ask the question, was this horrible storm and his response to it so far, and chris christie's embrace of him, so far, at least a benefit the october surprise, a been fit to president obama? >> i think it's pretty hard to come up and with any spin on it or take on it beyond that it's been a benefit for the president. is it a benefit for the president that decides outcome? i can't rule that out. some republicans believe that's the case. it's blotting out all news coverage nationally and the contested states in a way keeping governor romney from getting his momentum out. and so it's possible. but i think this is -- i think this was determined before the storm, is my gut, one way or the other. >> mark halperin, chris cillizza, thank you very much. how will the president continue to juggle responding to the storm and the demands of the re-election campaign. talk to former deck policy adviser melody barnes next. >>> people who are suffer